House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a stopgap bill to cover expenses through September in order to avert a government shutdown, but retained the sequester budget cuts. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Democrats hope to build in more exceptions to the automatically-mandated cuts. Gwen Ifill reports. Continue reading →

Continuing our series of conversations with retiring lawmakers, economics correspondent Paul Solman speaks with Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. Known for his sharp intellect and blunt style, Frank reflects on his successes in financial reform, says he wishes he had come out earlier as a gay man and his plans to write two books. Continue reading →

While the presidential election was center stage Tuesday night, several Senate and House seats were hotly contested and came down to the wire. These shots capture the victories and defeats in the congressional and gubernatorial races. Continue reading →

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor talks to Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff about vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, how the Republican ticket would address the needs and expectations of regular Americans, plus the political standoff in Washington between the two parties. Continue reading →

Ignoring a veto threat by President Obama, House Republicans voted Friday to extend a 2007 provision that halves the rate on Stafford student loans, but the parties are split on how to pay for it. Jeffrey Brown, George Washington University’s Sandy Baum and author Anya Kamenetz examine the political debate over college tuition. Continue reading →

In other news Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court convicted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of contempt for refusing to pursue a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari. However, the ruling carried only a symbolic sentence, allowing Gilani to stay in power. In Afghanistan, three U.S troops were killed in a bombing. Continue reading →

In other news Wednesday, suicide bombers killed at least 35 people and wounded more than 175 in Lahore, Pakistan. Also, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. Continue reading →

Early Friday, the House and Senate reached an agreement on a set of Wall Street reforms after a marathon session. Jeffrey Brown talks to Nomi Prins, former managing director at Goldman Sachs, and Douglas Elliot, former investment banker for JPMorgan, on what the measures would and wouldn’t change on Wall Street. Continue reading →

BP and other oil executives defended offshore drilling during hearings Tuesday in the House, as criticism of the response to the disaster continues to mount. Ray Suarez has an update on the hearings and the downgrading of BP’s credit rating. Continue reading →

Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks sort through the top political stories of the week, including the government’s role in the Gulf oil disaster and the expensive governor’s race in California. Continue reading →